The day began early for Rudra. The moment his alarm went off, he was up and ready, the excitement of his upcoming journey giving him an extra boost of energy. Today was the day he would finally head back to the village—a place he hadn’t seen in over fifteen years.

As he made his way to the hospital, his thoughts were preoccupied with the conversation he would soon have with his supervisor. Taking leave wasn’t something he did often, but he knew it was necessary this time. The idea of reconnecting with his roots and spending time with his family was something he couldn’t ignore.